Research indicates that "Covid" patients have a higher risk of experiencing brain fog, seizures, and dementia. Experts studied over 1.25 million people infected with "Covid" and found that new diagnoses of psychosis, dementia, seizures, and brain fog were more common in the two years following the infection compared to other respiratory diseases like influenza. Children experienced smaller increases in most cases compared to adults, except for seizures and psychosis. There was also a higher risk of anxiety and depression among adults, though this diminished within two months. The Delta and Omicron variants were associated with more disorders than the Alpha variant.
The lead researcher, Professor Paul Harrison from the University of Oxford, stated that the study showed that brain-related issues connected to "Covid" might last longer than the pandemic itself. He called for research into "what can be done to prevent or treat these conditions." However, Professor Paul Garner from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine cautioned that the increased risk of dementia and psychosis may be linked to "societal disruptions" rather than Covid itself. He believes that we need to be careful in interpreting the small reported increases in dementia and psychosis, which are likely connected to societal distress and the harsh reality we have been living through rather than a direct effect of the virus.
Harrison added: "In addition to confirming previous findings that Covid-19 can increase the risk of some neurological and psychiatric conditions in the first six months following infection, this study suggests that some of these increased risks could persist for at least two years. The findings have significant implications for patients and health services, as they suggest that new cases of neurological conditions related to Covid-19 are likely to occur long after the pandemic subsides. Our work also highlights the need for further research to understand why this occurs after Covid-19 and what can be done to prevent or treat these conditions."
